How gatekeeping, the sense of entitlement to underground artists, is patronizing the music industry and its listeners.
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t is widely believed that music directly impacts chemicals in our brains, which is why it often connects and brings people closer together. From sharing playlists with your loved ones to creating lifelong friendships with fellow fans, many people use music as a way to create social bonds with others. While this is the way that the majority of people choose to experience music, others become upset when their favorite underground artists gain mainstream traction and look condescendingly at
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those who they consider “fake fans.” When someone discovers a new With this behavior, known as “gate- artist that has a smaller fan base or keeping,” becoming more prevalent is lesser-known, many enjoy having in underground music circuits and them as their little secret and begin to online music communities, many feel a sense of protection over them. have different There comes a perspectives on point where the “I hate the idea of why people gateexclusivity is no keep, and if it people being mass longer what it should be okay attacked because once was, which to do so. can sometimes Luke Rains- people deem be upsetting for ford, an emo someone ‘uncool’ the fans. “People acoustic artist like to feel special from Leeds, based on their taste.” and important,” Luke Rainsford, acoustic artist Rainsford said. England, has a unique take on “I get it.” gatekeeping because of his outlook Rainsford has noticed an increase as an artist, as opposed to solely in gatekeeping on social media platbeing a listener. Music has been an forms, seeing people spread hate outlet for Rainsford to share his ex- to new fans of once smaller artists. perience with grief, mental health “People like to laugh and be mean to and relationships. “To me, music is people they deem ‘uncool’,” Rainsan escape,” Rainsford said. “It is ford said. “I hate the idea of people the place I can truly be myself.” being mass-attacked because people
